Thoughts on the Nature of Mutagen
 

(1) I think that mutagen does more than alter one's genetic code. I think it's also a fuel source for the changes. To grow, an organism must consume enough energy to activate the chemical reactions related to growth. I think the mutagen provides this fuel. However, to transform a rat into an anthro-rat and four turtles into anthro-turtles, a lake of mutagen would be necessary. They must have dumped a lot of the stuff into the TMNT's branch of the sewers.

(2) I wonder why anyone would make a substance like mutagen in the first place? What would its purpose be? And who would manufacture mutagen? Maybe the mutagen was developed by some mad scientist who wanted an army of anthro-monsters?

Do any of you have your own thoughts on mutagen?

In the Mirage and new series, the mutagen was created by the utroms. I'm not sure exactly why they created the substance. My guess is that they intended to mutate them selves into humanoid form to get around on Earth easier.


As for the original series, the mutagen came from Dimension X. Shredder originally intended to use it to kill Hamato Yoshi. I guess he thought it was a type of poison at the time.

I have my idea that the mutagen goop had traces of human DNA which in turn told the turtle's and sensei's genes to change and mutate into anthros.

Like Ryona's idea, I think the Oots were gonna mutate themselves to blend in civilization betterr. Instead, the turtles got to be unlikely test subjects. It worked at least.

I thought it was kinda funny how the mutagen worked in the cartoons. This makes me wonder if the writer did research on the effects of mutagen. I think if an animal got exposed to mutagen (or TCRI ooze) they'd probably get cancer and die. I found some definitions on dictionary.com. They'll probaly clear up some confusions and answer some questions y'all may have.

mutagen:
n.

An agent, such as ultraviolet light or a radioactive element, that can induce or increase the frequency of mutation in an organism.

: a substance (as mustard gas or various radiations) that tends to increase the frequency or extent of mutation

mutagen

n : any agent (physical or environmental) that can induce a genetic mutation or can increase the rate of mutation

I dunno what it has to do with genetics. Maybe a disorder or somethin'. I kinda found it weird how the mutagen (or the TCRI ooze) didn't have any side effects when the mutations occured. I guess the writer(s) decided to leave some questions unanswered.

What the Hell do you mean??? It's MUTAGEN. Not toxic waste.


Since when did the TMNT EVER have side effects from the mutation??? I don't recall Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird ever recording any side-effects from the mutation.

You seem to be looking into things that are not there.

Its Mystical cartoon goop! it can do anything.

But i like the Utrom explanation

Or maybe they wanted to come up with something totally insane that works in the end.

Shredder expected it to off Yoshi....I'd say that's grounds for believing it could be deadly.
Again, it stands to reason. The Utroms didn't create the mutagen as such, it was waste from their transmat that just so happened to have mutagenic properties, why shouldn't it have some adverse affects on the boys and Splinter. and Shrrreder and Krang's mutagen, again, Saki tried to use as a weapon on Yoshi. Why would Saki think there would be no adverse affects (aside from Hamato Yoshi's untimely death of course.)?

Correct. The mutagen has energy stored within itself. How do I know? Well, it glows. And light is very often a source of energy, if not always. I mean, when is the last time you saw a glowing rock?

As for the amount of energy within the mutagen: it was obviously enough to mutate four turtles and a rat. And for that, I'm very grateful. Otherwise we'd be watching the "Teenage halfways-mutated Ninja Turtles" which sounds like a bad idea.

Well, why do people clone buffaloes or let an ear grow on a rat's back? Because they can. The human mind sometimes comes up with completely useless stuff, which is then created just for the challenge.

:lol: :lol:

According to the original TMNT comics put out by Mirage, the mutagen (which was a chemical by-product of the Utroms attempts to construct a transmat device using Earth technology) acts as an evolutionary 'accelerator' --- evolving an organism thousands or even millions of years ahead in time.

Laterz.